About the event:

To build a bridge of communication between the Chinese community and the government as well as various sectors of society, the first meeting of the "Chinese Community Roundtable", jointly initiated by Australia-China Business and Culture Council (ACBCC), Hubei Association, Beijing Association, Juao Chinese Radio, and Australian Chinese Association, was successfully held at the ACBCC Activity Centre in Box Hill, Melbourne at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, June 2. 2025.

At the event, Keith Wolahan MP (Federal Member for Menzies)' representative, Jess Wilson MP (State Member for Kew), and Scanlon Foundation CEO Anthea Hancocks, among other guests, engaged in direct discussions with representatives of the Chinese community.

Expressing the Voice of the Chinese Community

The event was conducted in two sessions—one in English and one in Chinese—focused on issues that concern Chinese immigrants. The English session, in particular, posed a challenge for many Chinese community leaders, but also demonstrated to the Australian government that Chinese Australians are actively participating in civic life and striving to integrate into mainstream society.

During the intermission, Jordan Chen, President of ACBCC, specially arranged a private meeting between a representative of the 188 visa holders and Clinton, the representative of MP Keith Wolahan, to directly address the prolonged wait time for the 888 visa. Clinton expressed that the concerns would be reported to the relevant authorities and that further developments would be closely followed.

Attending guests remarked that this event provided a valuable opportunity for all levels of government, other community groups, and Chinese community organizations to gather under one roof, allowing them to better understand the diversity of the Chinese community as well as the issues and perspectives that matter to them. It enabled the voices of the Chinese community to be heard, helping to promote mutual development and inform policy-making by relevant government agencies.